Life From A Cat's Perspective Special Pages

Wednesday, August 5, 2009

We Have A Guest Blogger Today

Hi Everyone!! We have a Guest Blogger today!! He wrote an article for us about Cat Food Allergies!! Please welcome Sean from Cat Food Reviews!

Cat Food Ingredients that Cause Allergies

The most common ingredients in commercial cat food formulas are also some of the most frequent causes of allergic reactions in cats. This is not a coincidence. For the majority of allergic reactions, it is thought that the amount of exposure to a specific ingredient plays a significant part in the incidence of food allergies. A cat develops an allergic reaction to an ingredient when their immune system begins to respond to the ingredient as an antigen. White blood cells then respond by producing antibodies, which in the case of an allergic reaction, are called “immunoglobulin E”. This is what causes the symptoms of a food-related allergic reaction.

The following ingredients account for approximately 90% of food-related allergies in cats.(NOTE: You may notice that chicken is not on this list, even though it is a very common ingredient in many cat food formulas. While chicken is a common cause of allergic reaction in dogs, it is not as commonly associated with food allergies in cats. However, it is still possible for a cat to develop allergies to chicken-based protein, so it is important not to completely eliminate chicken as a suspected culprit for food allergies. )

BEEFBeef is an extremely common ingredient in many commercial cat food formulas. While a cat food formula may not be specifically named as containing beef-ingredients on the front label, beef is sometimes included as a supplemental protein source. This is one reason why it is extremely important to read the ingredients label when dealing with a cat with specific allergies.

LAMBWhile lamb is not as commonly included as beef in most commercial cat food brands, it is possible for a cat to develop an allergic reaction to lamb protein. This is an ingredient that has only recently become associated with cat food allergies, since the introduction of many “Lamb & Rice” formulas into the commercial cat food market. Through exposure to lamb protein, many cats are now developing an allergy to lamb-based cat food formulas.

SEAFOODSeafood, especially fish ingredients, are one of the more common causes of food allergies in cats. In many cases, it is specifically Tuna and Mackerel that are frequently associated with causing an allergic reaction.CARBOHYDRATES (CORN, SOY, WHEAT GLUTEN)High-carbohydrate foods (such as corn, soy and wheat) represent ingredients that are not found in the diet of feline breeds in the wild. However, these ingredients are commonly included as fillers in many commercial cat food formulas. It is fairly common for cats to develop an allergic reaction to carbohydrate-based ingredients, which usually manifests either as a skin reaction.

DAIRY PRODUCTSIt is possible for a cat to develop an allergy to dairy-based ingredients. An allergy to dairy ingredients will sometimes manifest as skin-related symptoms. However, it is important to note that most gastrointestinal symptoms in relation to dairy ingredients are not associated with an allergic reaction – instead, they are a key symptom of “Lactose Intolerance”. Being allergic to dairy ingredients and being lactose intolerant are two entirely different conditions.

We have been through a whole odyssey of different cat foods trying to help Harley with his EGC, because we thought it could be from a food allergy. Even though he still has to be on prednisone, we are happy that we're both eating the best food we can find. My Mommeh never in a million years thought she would end up feeding us a raw diet!